Gorillaz - El Manana



Music Video. Not just music. Not just video. One with the other. Once seen together, inseparable. Most music videos... a means of entertainment. Entertainment... in this case, no longer. The Gorillaz, an innovative band that formed in 1998, has taken music and video to a new playing field. When people thinks Gorillaz, can they put faces to the name? Yes--2D, Murdoc, Russell, and Noodle. Can people put human faces to the characters? Most likely not. This is of major importance! The audience can no longer judge the band by the actual band members actions in the real world. They can only make connection with what is seen in video, or in concert. Talk about freedom! Any bias formed against the band can only be connected with the sound of the music or the issues addressed in video.

This concept gives the band great power in their music videos to address the given issue(s). In this case, childhood innocence, adulthood war, mental freedom, mass culture, paradise, even a view into the human psyche. What? All that was in this four minute video? ...hard to believe, now isn't it! It is misleading at first. Any video like this can be easily forgotten or pushed aside by a viewer that knows nothing about the Gorillaz. Concepts of video(see subtitle "Aura" and if even futher interested, this text) are just as easily forgotten or neglected. Do people actually realize that watching a violent movie is nothing compared to reality? Video as entertainment, can quickly desensitize the viewer, whereas in this case, every wit the same viewer has, must be used to understand the issues being addressed. Is the average citizen still even capable to do so after such numerous exposure and desensitization?

Question after question after question! In the end, all questions lead to one more important question that leads only to more questions. Just why is the creator(s) of the video addressing the issue given current worldly situations? Now thats a big question!

Post #3: Discipline of a Master of his Trade

"Rather I am merely stating that similar to the ways in which monks attain their reputations (through diligence, repetition of traditions, and above all discipline) we, as writers, could attain a reputation for spectacular writing due to our unrelenting discipline to revision."

~Ryan Osberg

Discipline, perseverance, dedication, repetition, willingness to improve… trademarks of a true artist at work. Now by artist, I don’t mean the normal connotation of today’s artist. I’m talking of each and every person who puts his heart and soul into his work (or her and her work). This is what a true writer does when doing what he/she does best--write. This is the quality that turns words on a page into a masterpiece. Just how monks exhibit these traits in their everyday practices, so should a writer. However, not just anyone can make a masterpiece. This is where willingness to improve comes in. Unless by some natural gift, a writer must write and write and write in order to improve! Revision, revision, revision, and revision again... that is what leads to a masterpiece of literature. But what else is missing?! A writer can improve his work by the process of self-revision but is that the only thing he has to do? Of course not! Get opinions, get ideas, take suggestions, ask for opinions. A piece may sound great to a writer but that is because he knows exactly what he is trying to say. A rocket scientist won't be able to explain the theory of plate tectonics to a five year old. Other people must be able to understand the piece; yes, that is one goal of revision, but how far should one take revision--when should a person stop? Trouble is it varies from piece to piece. On writing may need to be picked over down to the most miniscule details, while others... it doesn't take much to sound good. Why? What is the difference between the two pieces? Audience, character, content... a vast array of factors can alter an essay. A tweak to style or voice could alter a piece dramatically! Just how does the writer want the piece to come alive, and how can he go about it?